We’re back with our third installment of the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers “what they look for” study. After focusing on cornerback and offensive tackle (which will be linked below), we’ll check out inside linebackers today. All in the hope of understanding the team’s tendencies and trying to predict what they’ll do this year.
Like before, I’ll copy/paste this qualifier in how I’m doing data collection this year.
“There’s one other change too. In past years, I focused largely on Combine workout numbers, only using Pro Days for objective testing, things like vertical and broad jump in which two scouts wouldn’t have two different numbers like they could with a 40 time or three-cone. But given the rise in players simply opting out of Combine testing, especially the cones (short shuttle and three-cone), I am including those numbers in our criteria. I’m still only looking at prospects invited to the Combine but if they didn’t test at Indy, I will consider their Pro Day figures. It isn’t ideal, there’s more gray area here, but it’s the smart thing to do.”
With that said, let’s look at the Steelers’ history drafting the position in the Mike Tomlin era.
2022: Mark Robinson
Height: 5114
Weight: 230
Arm Length: 29 1/2
Hand Size: 9 1/8″
Bench Press: 34
40: 4.69
Vert: 33.5″
Broad: 9’11”
Short Shuttle: 4.38
Three-Cone: 7.35
2021: Buddy Johnson
Height: 6004
Weight: 229
Arm Length: 31 1/2″
Hand Size: 9 7/8″
Bench Press: N/A
40: 4.58
Vert: 38.5″
Broad: 10’8″
Short Shuttle: 4.07
Three-Cone: 7.09
2019: Devin Bush
Height: 5110
Weight: 229
Arm Length: 32″
Hand Size: 9 5/8″
Bench Press: 21
40: 4.43
Vert: 40.5″
Broad: 10’4″
Short Shuttle: 4.23
Three-Cone: 6.93
Ulysees Gilbert III
Height: 6001
Weight: 224
Arm Length: 31 3/4″
Hand Size: 9 3/4″
Bench Press: 20
40: 4.51
Vert: 39.5″
Broad: 10’6″
Short Shuttle: 4.43
Three-Cone: 7.03
2016: Tyler Matakevich
Height: 6000
Weight: 238
Arm Length: 31 1/4″
Hand Size: 9 1/2″
Bench Press: 22
40: 4.81
Vert: 31″
Broad: 9’4″
Short Shuttle: 4.50
Three-Cone: 7.19
2014: Ryan Shazier
Height: 6011
Weight: 237
Arm Length: 32 3/8″
Hand Size: 10″
Bench Press: 25
40: N/A
Vert: 42″
Broad: 10’10”
Short Shuttle: 4.21
Three-Cone: 6.91
Jordan Zumwalt
Height: 6040
Weight: 235
Arm Length: 31 1/4″
Hand Size: 8 3/4″
Bench Press: N/A
40: 4.76
Vert: 33″
Broad: 9’8″
Short Shuttle: 4.25
Three-Cone: 6.99
2013: Vince Williams
Height: 6006
Weight: 233
Arm Length: N/A
Hand Size: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
40: N/A
Vert: 32.5″
Broad: 9’3″
Short Shuttle: 4.67
Three-Cone: 7.53
2012: Sean Spence
Height: 5113
Weight: 231
Arm Length: 31 1/2″
Hand Size: 9 1/4″
Bench Press: 12
40: 4.71
Vert: 33.5″
Broad: 9’11”
Short Shuttle: 4.28
Three-Cone: 7.46
2010: Stevenson Sylvester
Height: 6021
Weight: 231
Arm Length: 33 3/4″
Hand Size: 10 1/8″
Bench Press: 23
40: 4.78
Vert: 30.5″
Broad: 8’9″
Short Shuttle: N/A
Three-Cone: N/A
2008: Mike Humpal
Height: 6024
Weight: 244
Arm Length: 31 1/4″
Hand Size: 10″
Bench Press: 20
40: 4.82
Vert: 38″
Broad: 10’2″
Short Shuttle: 4.25
Three-Cone: 7.07
2007: Lawrence Timmons
Height: 6007
Weight: 234
Arm Length: 32 1/8″
Hand Size: 9 5/8″
Bench Press: 25
40: 4.7
Vert: 35″
Broad: 10’3″
Short Shuttle: 4.32
Three-Cone: 6.89
Mark Robinson the new kid on the block. We have one change to our criteria. Here’s what we’ll use this year.
Height: 6’0″+ (9 of 12 drafted)
Weight: 225+ pounds (10 of 11)
Arm Length: 31+ inches (10 of 11)
Hand Size: 9+ inches (10 of 11)
40 Time: 4.8 seconds or better (7 of 9)
Bench Press: 20+ reps (8 of 9)
Vert: 32+ inches (10 of 12)
Short Shuttle: 4.4 seconds (9 of 10)
Three-Cone: 7.35 seconds (9 of 11)
The three-cone mark has been adjusted from 7.20 to 7.35. So a pretty serious change.
| Name/School | Height | Weight | Arm Length | Hand Size | 40 Time | Bench | Vert | SS | 3 Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Banks/Tennessee | 6006 | 232 | 32 | 9 1/2 | 4.53 | 25 | 37.5 | 4.38 | 7.27 |
| Nick Herbig/Wisconsin | 6021 | 240 | 31 1/4 | 9 1/4 | 4.65 | 25 | 34 | 4.35 | 7.25 |
| Noah Sewell/Oregon | 6014 | 246 | 31 5/8 | 10 | 4.64 | 27 | 33 | 4.37 | 7.28 |
| Trenton Simpson/Clemson | 6023 | 235 | 32 3/8 | 10 1/4 | 4.43 | 25 | 40.5 | 4.24 | 7.08 |
Some notable names here. Banks is athletic but has off-field concerns that probably take him off the Steelers’ board. Herbig was an EDGE player in college but he’s projected to kick inside at the next level so I’m including him here. Herbig feels like a Steeler and LBs Coach Aaron Curry went to the Badgers’ Pro Day.
Sewell has been something of a polarizing prospect whose play hasn’t always matched his hype. Still, he’s hitting all the right notes. Simpson is a hyper-athlete who doesn’t have a clearly defined position but could be one of the first ILBs off the board.
Here are the players who missed in just one category.
One Box Away
Yasir Abdullah/Louisville – Bench (DNP)
Jack Campbell/Iowa – Bench (DNP)
Shaka Heyward – Vertical (31)
Cam Jones/Indiana – Bench (17)
Drew Sanders/Arkansas – Bench (DNP)
Abdullah was an EDGE player who, like Herbig, will kick inside. Campbell is a dream candidate for me though it’s been looking less likely throughout this pre-draft process that the Steelers draft him. Heyward missed checking every box by one inch with his vertical. Sanders is another top prospect while Jones was limited to just five games last season.
Previous ‘Look For’ Studies
